Interstate 75 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was shut down in both directions after a portion of a bridge collapsed onto the roadway below.
Tennessee Department of Transportation officials said a barrier at the Interstate 24 and Interstate 75 split fell from the I-75 south bridge onto I-75 north, located below, reported WSB-TV.
“I-75 N closed at I-24 W split due to railing falling from bridge onto roadway. Area expected to be closed to traffic for an extended time,” said Chattanooga Police on Twitter.
TRAFFIC ALERT: I-75 N closed at I-24 W split due to railing falling from bridge onto roadway. Area expected to be closed to traffic for an extended time. #CHAtraffic pic.twitter.com/jmO0IRjZfh
— Chattanooga Police (@ChattanoogaPD) April 1, 2019
A car was struck by the concrete as it fell down, according to the report.
The driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.
Department of Transportation officials said they will clean it up by 4 p.m. ET.
NEW: Here’s my amateur attempt at showing you where this is. pic.twitter.com/TePCNz7ckv
— Shannen Sharpe (@sharpeproducer) April 1, 2019
The bridge was inspected last in 2016, reported WSB.
Other details about the incident are not clear.
This is an image from Google maps showing the exact railing that collapsed onto the roadway below pic.twitter.com/opAnvFBdXp
— Latricia Thomas (@LatriciaTnc9) April 1, 2019
A concrete railing on I-75 N to I-25 W collapsed and hit a car. Responders on scene say person sustained non-life-threatening injuries. @TDOT is re-routing traffic. Pics by BC Carlos Hampton. #ChattFire pic.twitter.com/Db7D5Oesld
— Chattanooga FireDept (@ChattFireDept) April 1, 2019
Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke wrote, “A frightening bridge collapse at one of the most heavily trafficked intersections in the country, where 75 and 24 meet.”
He noted that it is “truly miraculous that no one was seriously injured” in the collapse.
A frightening bridge collapse at one of the most heavily trafficked intersections in the country, where 75 and 24 meet. Truly miraculous that no one was seriously injured. @myTDOT is one the scene assessing cause and traffic solutions pic.twitter.com/CFrkPNZVJL
— Andy Berke (@AndyBerke) April 1, 2019
Crumbling Infrastructure?
Two months ago, during the State of the Union speech, President Trump noted the United States’ crumbling infrastructure.
“Both parties should be able to unite for a great rebuilding of America’s crumbling infrastructure,” Trump told Congress at the time. “I know that Congress is eager to pass an infrastructure bill, and I am eager to work with you on legislation to deliver new and important infrastructure investment.”
“This is not an option. This is a necessity,” the president added.
During his 2016 campaign, Trump called for $1 trillion over a decade on infrastructure issues across the United States.
